Hong Kong “Miracle” Cat Survives 26 Story Fall

A Hong Kong cat used up a few of her nine-lives yesterday when she fell 26 stories and survived. The 18-year-old feline named Jommi is walking around today as if nothing happened in what her owner is calling a miracle and a bit of luck thanks to a well-placed structure.

“Thank God that tent was there, she put a hole right through it,” Al Ling posted on his Facebook page. “We are all in shock now.”

Ling, a local videographer, says the window in his flat was left open, allowing Jommi to climb out. “We left a little window crack open to get some fresh air. We went into the other room for a few minutes and shortly after, came out calling for her, looking everywhere and not finding her.”

That was when Ling checked the open window. “I looked over and saw a large hole on the tent 26 stories below, and I knew she went over.”

The skydiving kitty can expect some pampering according to Ling. “She will get spoiled to her end.”

While Jommi’s story should be a stark reminder to pet owners to keep their windows shut or screened when their furry family members are around, it is not uncommon for cat’s to survive falls from tremendous heights.

There has never been a formal study on cat’s falling from skyscrapers, however in the 1980’s, two veterinarians in New York City recorded the details of 132 cats that fell from extreme heights to discover any patterns. The results were published in the The Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association and are commonly referenced in veternary circles when encountering cases like Jommi’s.

According to the data, cats have a greater chance of survival if they fall from higher distances. The records showed that only one of 22 cats died that fell from a height of seven stories and above.

The veterinarians reasoned that the survival rate was due to cats reaching a lower terminal velocity than humans (60mph versus 120mph) and perhaps, extending their legs like a flying squirrel once they righted themselves during long falls.